Tanning Bed or Spray on Tan?

Question

I need to tan up my skin and have been readin the pros and cons of both methods. Generally when I am outside in the sun my skin just turns pink and I burn, so a Tanning Bed is making me wonder how effective I could actually get a tan.

I have been reading up quite a bit on Spray on Tans. I have heard people say they make you orange and I have heard some people say if you use the lotion properly then it generally looks pretty good.

Can anyone tell me from personal experiances which method would be best for me. I am fairly white but don't have any dry scan or anything.

Answer 1

The answer to your question really depends on the reason behind the tan. If you are planning a trip/vacation to a hot sunny climate, then you probably want a real tan (for protection). You don't want to get to your vacation spot and forget about the sunscreen one day and fry. If you tan in a bed and get a base tan before you go, you reduce your chances for a bad burn while playing in the sun.

Yes, lots of people in authority say, don't tan outside or in beds. But, the reality is, if you want to go on vacation, you will be outside. So, if you take their advice and never tan, you _will_ get a bad burn at some point. Burning is the absolute worst thing you can do to your skin. It will also ruin several days of your vacation and possibly put you on track for skin cancer. In other words, you never want to burn.

If you're tanning for cosmetic purposes or a photo shoot, then opt for a spray tan. You don't really need to have the protection that a real tan offers. A spray tan will last about 1 week at the most and 3-4 days at the least. You will have to scrub off the remaining spray tan before you spray again. Spray tans have a distinctive odor when developing (musky or crispy smelling). Once the developing process nears the end, the odor will subside. However, if you can smell it, other people can too.

There are safety issues, obviously, with both methods. Tanning in a bed is like tanning in the sun. So, your skin suffers from all the same problems as being in the sun. When you tan in a bed, always use a lotion and moisturize daily. Tanning beds are very drying to the skin. However, tanning beds provide controlled exposure. So, you can't easily overdo it in a bed (unless you haven't tanned before, are very white in color and try to go the full time). An experienced salon operator should be able to determine, based on your skin tone, the amount of exposure you need each time you tan. You can also tell yourself. If you tan in a bed and get any redness and pain, you're burned. I recommend that you start with primarily UVA beds. UVA only beds provide almost all UVA rays with very little UVB rays. Think of the B in UVB as burn. So, UVB rays burn you. UVA rays activate the tanning mechanism. UVB is necessary to oxidise the color to turn brown.

UVA beds, like The Matrix, are more expensive beds to use, but you will not easily come out of the bed burned. Standard tanning beds with flourescent-style UV bulbs tend to put out a mix of UVA and UVB. Depending on the bed and bulbs, it might even put out more UVB than UVA. A quality salon operator will change bulbs often and check the UV levels with a UV meter frequently. You should also ask the salon owner how frequently they change their bulbs and how recently the bulbs were changed in the bed you will be using. Brand new bulbs are very strong and require even less time than normal.

You need to determine your skin type. If you are the a Type I or Type II (burn easily, tan minimally) and you need a faster tan, then go for the spray. Type I and Type II skin takes a very long time to gain color and is easily prone to burning in the process. Expect at least 4 months worth of tanning to get satisfactory color (although, after 4 months, I won't say you'll be dark). If you are a Type III, you could go either way, but tanning in a bed will still take longer than a spray. If you're a Type IV or V, you should be able to tan easily and gain color rapidly in a bed (with little chance of burning).

Spray tan has its risks too. The active ingredient in spray tanning is Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and sometimes Erythrulose. Both are agents that change the top layer of proteins in the skin to a psuedo-brown color. Neither of these two products are that safe for the lungs once aerosolized. But, it's also very hard to hold your breath the entire time you're getting sprayed. So, you will inevitably have to breathe some of these chemicals when getting sprayed. The best spray tan booths are Mystic and Mist-On. These give even spray and the color is reasonable. The worst booth, at least from what I've heard, is Magic Tan. Some tanning salons offer hand airbrushing. Make sure to ask the salon owner if they are using original factory solution in their spray booths. If the owner is buying a knock off brand (and yes, they are available) to save on costs, you will likely turn orange or yellow.

The safest way to get a fake bake is really to use a self-tanning lotion and spread it on yourself. That way, you're not breathing the DHA fumes. But, this is hard to do on your own and can cause blotchyness and streaks. If you choose to use a lotion at home, then scrub with a buff-puff or other exfoliating sponge and then let yourself completely dry. Do not put a self-tanner on your skin while you're still wet. The best and most natural looking self-tanner that I've used is Famous Dave's. It has no fragrance, gives a nice looking reasonable color, is reasonably easy to apply without streaks. But, you should test it first to determine if it will look good on your skin before you use it all over. Also, some people are allergic to DHA, so be sure to test for that reason as well.

Keep in mind that your skin is an organ and anything you put on it can, in may cases, seep into it (and can get into the blood stream). So, sunscreen products and self-tanners contain chemicals that can, over long term exposure, end up inside the body. So, while the sunscreen proponents continually tell you to slather it on before going outside, the reality is, it may actually be harming you long term. Yes, it may protect your skin from a burn in the short term, but what are these chemicals doing internally? Also, the other thing about sunscreen chemicals, especially the UVA blockers, is that these chemicals break down rapidly on the skin and can rapidly become ineffective. This is why so many people still tan while wearing sunscreens. You may be blocking much of the UVB, but not much of the UVA. Suncreens have their place, but only if you need to be outdoors for 8 hours every day. If you're going out for 15 minutes, putting on sunscreen may not help you much.

If you plan on tanning in a bed, do not wear sunscreens. Instead, reduce your exposure times. The reason is that wearing sunscreen 1) you are negating the point of using a tanning bed and 2) you're wasting money.

Keep in mind that nothing in life is completely safe. But, the Sun is a natural phenomena. Tanning is also a natural response to sun exposure. Sunscreen chemicals and self-tanners are not, by any means, natural phenomena and are completely man-made.

Good luck with your tanning.

Answer 2

A tanning bed is something that I prefer over a spray tan. Yes, tanning beds are harmful, but no more harmful than being in the sun for an extended period of time without sun screen. You begin noticing your tan the first time of use, but it isn't really visibly tan for about one week of use. With spray tans, it's an instant look that you've been tanning, but almost every single spray tan has a noticable orange look to it. Whether or not you can see it, many can. I say go with the tanning bed. You won't look orange that way!

Answer 3

I used to work at a tanning salon. I would recommend tanning in a bed. Use a lotion (talk to the tanning consultant at the salon) and i would start out small. First time, (in a 15 min bed) maybe 3 mins, then go up 3 mins each time you go so you don't burn. As long you keep your skin moisturized when you do it you will be fine.

Answer 4

Both are not safe but if you are going to rate it to which one is better, i would say the Spray on Tan. Even though the spray on tan is just a spray, you need to look for the warnings. Most of the spray tans are just for inside. You cant go outside after putting that spray on you because it can cause a double exposure causing your skin to get more darker and causing you to lift your chances of the worst case of Skin Cancer

Answer 5

Personally i say use the tanning lotion. its the best option out there, because your fairly white, go for a milder tan, so you wont go all orange. am fair as well and thats what i go for, it just gives me a healthy glow and plus you have the added benefit of sunscreen, so you dont get burnt in the sun.
tanning beds do give you cancer after prolonged use and you can get addicted so i say stay away from them.
happy tanning.

Answer 6

you can get some johnsons body lotion that if used for a week can make your skin have that tan glow.
if you use spray tan correctly it will work but if used wrong can cause streaks and orangeness.
i wouldnt use a tanning bed with all the skin cancer peoplr talk off

Answer 7

If you go to a salon that does spray tans they work well. DO not use a tanning bed as it increases your risk for skin cancer and skin cancer doesn't care how young or old you are. Skin cancer can also be very deadly if not caught in time. Use a salon that offers spray tanning.

Answer 8

spray on tan it a lot better for you.i use brazillan tan i mix half and half with a leave in conditioner and put it in a spray bottle. makes ur skin soft and it last a pretty good while. then while your in the sun you will still tan!

Answer 9

Dr. Phil advised to use rather a lotion or i think it was a spray, sorry not so sure......but he advised to his show that not Tanning Bed and not Sun Tan,too.

Answer 10

tans are gross and they make you look leathery and old... I have a couple of friends that did the spray on tan recently and they said it made them super orange.

I like my fair skinned glow... be comfortable with who you are.